Game device



June 6, 1961 E. F. ACEVEDO GAME DEVICE Filed May 26, 1959 United States Patent O 2,987,317 GAlVlE DEVICE Eusebio Felix Acevedo, 723 S. Gerhart Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 26, 1959, Ser. No. 815,958 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-67) This invention relates generally to sporting equipment and relates more particularly to a club-like or pear-shaped game device.

It is contemplated that the game will be played by two persons although more might play the game together.

Each player is provided with one of the devices and each player tries to strike the other with the device. The person against whom the blow is directed attempts to parry the blow and get in a blow himself.

Since the players will be struck by the device, it is essential that it be of such character that the struck players will not be injured.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a game device for striking blows that will essentially eliminate the danger of a player being injured when struck.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is relatively simple in construction.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that has a certain amount of ilexibility in the region of the junction of the handle with the inated end portion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is rugged in construction.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sut`ciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. l is a view showing two players engaged in a game and using devices embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the device;

FIG. 3 is a view of the device from the handle end thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative arrangement.

Referring to FIG. 1, each player is shown as having a striking device, indicated generally at 10, embodying the present invention.

The interior construction of the device is shown in FIG. 2, said device having a bulbous inflatable end, indicated generally at 12, and a handle therefor, indicated generally at 14. There is an outer covering for the device which may be formed of a single sheet of suitable material such as leather, plastic or the like. However, the cover will have greater exibility by being formed of two sheets of relatively thin material, there being an outer layer and an inner layer 16. In any event, the term cover is intended to include a covering whether comprising a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of covering material.

Within the cover there is an inatable member 17 which includes a relatively thin wall portion disposed within the bulbous part of the device and a thickened reduced diameter end portion 18 within the handle. The portion 18 has an air passage 19 which extends from the free end 20 thereof. The outer end portion of the passage 19 is enlarged at 21 for reception of a needle valve 22 of wellknown character, said valve normally being closed but being adapted to have a tubular needle inserted therein whereby the device may be inflated. lt is to be noted that the free end portion of the part 18 is provided with an annular, radially extending ange 23 against the inner side of which the free ends of the cover abut. The parts of the device are secured together by any suitable means such as any well-known adhesive which will bind together the material of which the respective parts of the device are made. Within the bulbous portion of the device there is a relatively thick pad or filler 25 of sponge rubber or any other suitable material. It is to be noted that the cover tits tightly about the portion 18 for a substantial distance from the free end and from there on there is a'v gradually expanding annular space 27 between the cover and the portion 18 and a portion 28 of the padding or iiller extends into this space. i

In the region indicated generally at 30, the walls of the handle portion 18 of the inflatable element 17 decrease in thickness toward the thin wall portion and in this region the device has substantial exibility.

For use, the device is inated to distend the inatable end, the degree of inflation depending upon what is de- Y sired by the players, preferably the inated end should l be relatively soft and because of the padding or filling 25, the danger of injury to the players is reduced to a minimum or substantially eliminated.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. However, the inated portion is elongated and includes a cylindrical portion 3S and a mitten 36 is provided and is attached to the handle by means of a suitable adhesive. The mitten 36 protects the hand of the player and also provides a cushioning means so that the opposing player is also protected in case the hands of the player using the device should inadvertently strike said opposing player.

The mitten 36 also serves to prevent inadvertent or accidental slipping of the device from the hand of the user. An alternative arrangement for this purpose is a strap, not shown, which would have its ends secured to the handle and in use, the user would have the loop of the strap about the wrist.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiments hereinbefore described being merely by way of example.

I claim:

l. An inliatable, generally pear-shaped game device, comprising: a generally pear-shaped cover formed of a plurality of thin layers of sheet material, the projecting portion being the handle; an inner element having a relatively thick handle part at one end with an air passage extending inwardly from the free end thereof, and a relatively thin walled inatable bag portion having its interior in communication with said air passage, the inner end portion of said passage increasing progressively in size with the wall dening same becoming progressively thinner and merging with the bag portion at the junction thereof, the handle of said inner element being disposed within the reduced part of the cover with the latter fitting snugly on a substantial free end part of said handle part and secured thereto by adhesive, the cover gradually diverging from the inner part of the thickened portion and defining therewith a gradually expanding annular chamber; a relatively thick layer of sponge rubber padding disposed between the bag portion of the inner element and the cover; and a needle valve in the outer end of said air passage.

2. An inatable, generally club-shaped game device Patented June 6, 1961 secured thereto by adhesive, the cover gradually'diverging from the inner end of the handle and defining therewith a gradually expanding-annular chamber; a relatively thick layer of sponge rubber disposed between the bag part of the inner element and the cover; and a needle valve in the outer end of said air passage.

3. An inflatable, generally club-shaped game deviceY having a handle and an enlarged part at one end of said handle, comprising: an inner element having a relatively stiff handle with an air passage extendinginwardly therel through from the free end thereof, and arelatively thin walled inflatable bag at the other end of said handle said bag having its interior in communication with said air passage; a club-shaped cover for said'inner element, a portion of said cover fitting snugly on a substantial free end part of said handle, the cover gradually diverging from the inner end of the handle and defining therewith a gradually expanding annular chamber; a relatively thick layer of sponge rubber disposed between the bag partof the inner element and the cover and into said chamber; and a needle valve in the outer end of said air passage.

4. In an inflatable game device having a handle and an enlarged part at one end of said handle: an inner element having a relatively stiff handle with an air passage extending inwardly from the free end thereof, and an infiatable bag at the other end, said bag vhaving its interior in communication with said air passage; a cover for said inner element, a portion of said cover fitting snugly on a substantial free end part of said handle and having an f S. In an inflatable game device having a handle and an enlarged part at one end of said handle: an inner element having a relatively stii handle at one end and an inflatable bag at the other end; a cover for said inner element, a portion of said cover fitting on a portion of said handle and another portion of said cover enclosing said bag; a relatively thick layer of padding disposed between the bag part of the inner element and the cover; and valve means connected with said bag whereby air may be introduced into said bag for inflation thereof.

6. In an inatable game device having a handle and an enlarged part atone end of said handle: an inner element having a relatively stiff handle at one end and an infiatable vbag at the other end; a cover for said inner element,v a portion of said cover fitting on a portion of said handle, and another portionof ysaid cover enclosing s aid bag; a relatively thick layer of padding disposed between the bag part of theinner element andthe cover; valve means connected with said bag'whereby air may be intro-v duced into said bag'for inflation thereoand meansY attached to the handle of the device for reception of a users hand.

7. In an iniiatable game device having a handle and an enlarged part at one end of said handle: an inner element having a relatively stiff handle at one end and an inliatable bag at the other end; a cover for said inner element, aportion of said cover fitting o n a portionof said handle, and another'portion of said covervenclosing'said bag; a

relatively thick layer of padding disposed between the bag' part of the inner element and the cover; valve means 'connected with said bag whereby air may be introduced into said bag for ination thereof; and a mitten attached Vto the handle of the device for reception of a users hand.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 

